< 1 Wafalme 18 >
1 Kwa hiyo baada ya siku nyingi neno la BWANA likamjia Eliya, katika mwaka wa tatu wa ukame, likisema, “Nenda ukajionyeshe mwenyewe kwa Ahabu nami nitainyeshea ardhi mvua.”
After many dayes, the worde of the Lord came to Eliiah, in the third yeere, saying, Goe, shewe thy selfe vnto Ahab, and I will sende rayne vpon the earth.
2 Eliya akaenda kujionyesha mwenyewe kwa Ahabu; sasa njaa ilikuwa kali sana kule Samaria.
And Eliiah went to shew himselfe vnto Ahab, and there was a great famine in Samaria.
3 Ahabu akamwita Obadia, aliyekuwa mkuu wa ikulu. Obadia alimheshimu sana BWANA,
And Ahab called Obadiah the gouernour of his house: (and Obadiah feared God greatly:
4 kwa kuwa wakati Yezebeli alipokuwa akiwaua manabii wa BWANA, Obadia alichukua manabii mia akawaficha katika makundi ya hamsini hamsini katika pango na akawalisha kwa mikate na maji.
For when Iezebel destroyed the Prophets of the Lord, Obadiah tooke an hundreth Prophets, and hid them, by fiftie in a caue, and he fed them with bread and water.)
5 Ahabu akamwambia Obadia, “Pita katika nchi yote na katika chemichemi zote za maji na vijito. Yamkini tunaweza kupata maji na nyasi ili tuwaokoa hawa farasi na nyumbu, ili tusiwakose wanyama wote.”
And Ahab saide vnto Obadiah, Goe into the land, vnto all the fountaines of water, and vnto all the riuers, if so be that we may finde grasse to saue the horses and the mules aliue, lest we depriue the lande of the beastes.
6 Kwa hiyo wakaigawa nchi kati yao ili wapite kati yake wakitafuta maji. Ahabu akaenda njia yake mwenyewe na Obadia naye akaenda njia yake.
And so they deuided the lande betweene them to walke thorowe it. Ahab went one way by him selfe, and Obadiah went another way by him selfe.
7 Wakati Obadia akiwa njiani, akakutana na Eliya pasipo kutegemea. Obadia akamtambua na akalala kifudifudi chini. Akamwambia, “Ndiye wewe, bwana wangu Eliya?”
And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Eliiah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art not thou my lord Eliiah?
8 Naye Eliya akamjibu, Ni mimi. Nenda umwambie bwana wako, 'Tazama, Eliya yuko hapa.'”
And he answered him, Yea, goe tell thy lord, Behold, Eliiah is here.
9 Obadia akamjibu. “Nimekoseaje, kwamba umtoe mtumishi wako katika mkono wa Ahabu ili aniue?
And he said, What haue I sinned, that thou wouldest deliuer thy seruant into the hande of Ahab, to slay me?
10 Kama BWANA Mungu wako aishivyo, hakuna taifa wala ufalme ambapo bwana wangu hajatuma watu kukutafuta. Kila taifa au ufalme unaposema, “Eliya hayuko hapa,' Ahabu hufanya waape ni kweli hawajakuona.
As the Lord thy God liueth, there is no nation or kingdome, whither my lorde hath not sent to seeke thee: and when they sayd, He is not here, he tooke an othe of the kingdome and nation, if they had not found thee.
11 Na sasa wewe unasema, 'Nenda, ukamwambie bwana wako kwamba Eliya yuko hapa.'
And now thou sayest, Goe, tell thy lorde, Beholde, Eliiah is here.
12 Mara tu baada ya kukuacha Roho wa BWANA atakuchukua na kukupeleka mahali ambapo sitapajua. Kisha nikienda na kumwambia Ahabu, na asipokuona, ataniua. Bado, mimi, mtumishi wako, nimekuwa nikimwabudu BWANA kutoka ujana wangu.
And when I am gone from thee, the Spirit of the Lord shall cary thee into some place that I doe not know: so when I come and tell Ahab, if he cannot finde thee, then wil he kill me: But I thy seruant feare the Lord from my youth.
13 Je, haujaambiwa, bwana wangu, nilichokifanya wakati Yezebeli alipowaua manabii wa BWANA, jinsi nilivyowaficha wale manabii mia moja wa BWANA katika makundi ya hamsini kwenye pango na kuwalisha kwa mikate na maji?
Was it not tolde my lord, what I did when Iezebel slew the Prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundreth men of the Lordes Prophets by fifties in a caue, and fed them with bread and water?
14 Na sasa unasema, 'Nenda umwambie bwana wako kwamba Eliya yuko hapa,' kwa hiyo ataniua.”
And now thou sayest, Go, tel thy lord, Behold, Eliiah is here, that he may slay me.
15 Ndipo Eliya alipomjibu, “Kama vile BWANA wa majeshi aishivyo, ambaye mimi ninasimama, Kwa hakika nitajionyeshakwa Ahabu leo.”
And Eliiah said, As the Lord of hostes liueth, before whome I stand, I will surely shewe my selfe vnto him this day.
16 Kwa hiyo Obadia akaenda kukutana na Ahabu, nakumwambia kile Eliya alichokuwa amemwambia. Ndipo mfalme alipoenda kukutana na Eliya.
So Obadiah went to meete Ahab, and tolde him: And Ahab went to meete Eliiah.
17 Ahabu alipomwona Eliya, akamwambia, “Je, ni wewe? Wewe mtabishaji wa Israeli!”
And when Ahab saw Eliiah, Ahab said vnto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 Eliya akamwambia, “Mimi sijaitabisha Israeli, Lakiini wewe na familia ya baba yako ndio watabishaji kwa kuziacha amri za BWANA na kufuata sanamu za Baali.
And he answered, I haue not troubled Israel, but thou, and thy fathers house, in that ye haue forsaken the commandements of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
19 Kwa hiyo sasa, Tuma neno na unikusanyie Israeli yote katika mlima Kameli, pamoja na manabii 450 wa Baali na wale manabii 400 wa Ashera wanaokula kwenye meza ya Yezebeli.”
Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel vnto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal foure hundreth and fiftie, and the prophets of the groues foure hundreth, which eate at Iezebels table.
20 Kwa hiyo Ahabu akatuma neno kwa watu wote wa Israeli na akawakusanya manabii wote kwenye mlima Kameli.
So Ahab sent vnto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together vnto mount Carmel.
21 Eliya akaja karibu na watu wote akasema, “Mtaendelea kubadilisha mawazo yenu mpaka lini? Kama BWANA ni Mungu, mfuateni yeye, Lakini kama Baali ni Mungu, basi mfuateni yeye,” Lakini watu hawakumjibu neno.
And Eliiah came vnto all the people, and said, How long halt ye betweene two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal be he, then goe after him. And the people answered him not a worde.
22 Kisha Eliya akawaambia wale watu, “Mimi, pekee yangu, ndiye niliyebaki kuwa nabii wa BWANA, lakini manabii wa Baali wako 450.
Then said Eliiah vnto the people, I onely remayne a Prophet of the Lord: but Baals prophets are foure hundreth and fiftie men.
23 Hebu tutoleeni ng'ombe wawili. Nao wajichagulie ng'ombe mmoja na wamchinje na kumkatakata katika vipnde, na wamweke kwenye kuni, na wasitie moto chini yake. Nami nitamwandaa yule wa pili na kumweke juu ya kuni nami sitatia moto chini yake.
Let them therefore giue vs two bullockes, and let them chuse the one, and cut him in pieces, and lay him on the wood, but put no fire vnder, and I will prepare the other bullocke, and lay him on the wood, and will put no fire vnder.
24 Kisha mtaliita jina la mungu wenu, nami nitaliita jina la BWANA, na Mungu atakayejibu kwa moto, huyo ndiye Mungu.” Watu wote wakajibu na kusema, “Hilo ni jambo jema.”
Then call ye on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and then the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered, and sayde, It is well spoken.
25 Kwa Eliya akawaambia manabii wa Baali, “Chagueni ng'ombe mmoja kwa ajili yenu na mwe wa kwanza kumwamdaa, kwa kuwa ninyi ni wengi, Kisha liiteni jina la mungu wenu, lakini msiwashe moto.”
And Eliiah said vnto the prophets of Baal, Chuse you a bullocke, and prepare him first, (for ye are many) and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire vnder.
26 Nao wakamchukua yule ng'ombe waliokuwa wamepewa na wakamwandaa, na ndipo walipoliita jina la Baali kuanzia asubuhi hadi adhuhuri, wakisema, “Baali, tusikie.” Lakini hapakuwepo na Sauti, na wala hakuna aliyejibu. Wakachezacheza kuizunguka madhabahu waliyotengeneza.
So they tooke the one bullocke, that was giuen them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal, from morning to noone, saying, O Baal, heare vs: but there was no voyce, nor any to answere: and they leapt vpon the altar that was made.
27 Ilipofika adhuhuri Eliya akawakejeli akisema, “Mwiteni kwa nguvu! Huyo ni mungu! labda anawaza kitu, au amepumzika, au yuko safarini, au pengine amelala sharti aamshwe.”
And at noone Eliiah mocked them, and said, Crye loude: for he is a god: either he talketh or pursueth his enemies, or is in his iourney, or it may be that he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 Kwa hiyo wakamwita kwa nguvu, wakajikatakata kama kawaida yao ilivyokuwa, kwa upanga na nyembe, mpaka damu ikawachuruzika.
And they cryed loude, and cut them selues as their maner was, with kniues and launcers, till the blood gushed out vpon them.
29 Ikawa wakati wa adhuhuri ulipopita, na bado walikuwa wakiendelea kutabiri mpaka wakati wa jioni wa kutoa dhabihu, lakini hapakuwepo na sauti wala mtu wa kuwajibu; wala hapakuwepo na yeyote wa kujibu wala wa kuangalia.
And when midday was passed, and they had prophecied vntil the offring of the euening sacrifice, there was neither voyce, nor one to answere, nor any that regarded.
30 Kisha Eliya akawaambia watu wote, “Nisogeleeni,” na watu wote wakamsogelea. Naye akatengeneza ile madhabahu ya BWANA ambayo ilikuwa imeharibika.
And Eliiah said vnto all the people, Come to me. And all the people came to him. And he repayred the altar of the Lord that was broken downe.
31 Eliya akachukua mawe kumi na mawili, kila jiwe moja liliwakilisha kabila moja la wana wa Yakobo - ni kupitia Yakobo kwamba neno la BWANA lilikuja, likisema, “Jina lako litakuwa Israel.”
And Eliiah tooke twelue stones, according to the nomber of the tribes of the sonnes of Iaakob, (vnto whome the worde of the Lord came, saying, Israel shalbe thy name)
32 Kwa kutumia hayo mawe aliijenga ile madhabahu kwa jina la BWANA na akachimba mfereji kuizunguka ile madhabahu kubwa kiasi cha kubeba lita kumi na tano za maji.
And with the stones he buylt an altar in the Name of the Lord: and he made a ditch round about the altar, as great as woulde conteine two measures of seede.
33 Kisha akaweka kuni kwa ajili ya moto na akamkatakata yule ng'ombe katika vipande vipande na akaweka vile vipande juu ya kuni. Na akasema, “Vijazeni maji hivyo vyombo na yamwageni kwenye hiyo sadaka ya kueketezwa na juu ya hizo kuni.”
And he put the wood in order, and hewed the bullocke in pieces, and layd him on the wood,
34 Akasema tena fanyeni hivyo mara ya pili,” nao wakafanya kwa mara ya pili. kisha akasema, “Fanyeni mara ya tatu,” nao wakafanya kwa mara ya tatu.
And said, Fill foure barrels with water, and powre it on the burnt offring and on the wood. Againe he said, Doe so againe. And they did so the second time. And he sayde, Doe it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 Maji yakaizunguka ile madhabahu na kuujaza ule mfereji.
And the water ran round about the altar: and he filled the ditch with water also.
36 Ikawa wakati wa kutoa dhabihu ya jioni, nabii Eliya akasogea na akasema, “BWANA, Mungu wa Abrahamu, na wa Isaka, na wa Israeli, na ijulikane leo kwamba wewe ndiye Mungu wa Israeli, na kwamba mimi ni mtumishi wako, na kwamba nimeyafanya mambo haya yote kwa jina lako.
And when they should offer the euening sacrifice, Eliiah the Prophet came, and sayd, Lord God of Abraham, Izhak and of Israel, let it be knowen this day, that thou art the God of Israel, and that I am thy seruant, and that I haue done all these things at thy commandement.
37 Nisikie, BWANA, nisike, ili hawa watu wajue kuwa wewe, BWANA, ndiye Mungu, na kwamba umeirudisha mioyo yao kwako tena.”
Heare me, O Lord, heare me, and let this people know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart againe at the last.
38 Ndipo moto wa BWANA ukashuka ukairamba ile sadaka, pamoja na zile kuni, mawe na mavumbi, na kuyaramba yale maji yaliyokuwa kwenye ule mfereji.
Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt offring, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked vp the water that was in the ditche.
39 watu wote walipoona haya, wakalala kifudifudi chini wakasema, “BWANA, ndiye Mungu! BWANA ndiye Mungu!
And when all the people sawe it, they fell on their faces, and saide, The Lord is God, the Lord is God.
40 Kwa hiyo Eliya akawaambia, “Wakamateni manabii wa Baali. Msimwache hata mmoja wao atoroke.” Kwa hiyo wakawakamata, na Eliya akawaleta manabii wa Baali chini kwenye kijito cha Kishoni na akawaua huko.
And Elijah said vnto them, Take the prophets of Baal, let not a man of them escape. and they tooke them, and Eliiah brought them to the brooke Kishon, and slewe them there.
41 Eliya akamwambia Ahabu, “Inuka, ule na kunywa, kwa kuwa kuna sauti ya mvua kubwa.”
And Eliiah sayde vnto Ahab, Get thee vp, eate and drinke, for there is a sound of much rayne.
42 Kwa hiyo Ahabu akaenda akala na knywa. Kisha Eliya akaenda juu ya mlima Kameli, akasudu chini na akaweka uso wake katikati ya magoti.
So Ahab went vp to eate and to drinke, and Eliiah went vp to the top of Carmel: and he crouched vnto the earth, and put his face betweene his knees,
43 Akamwambia mtumishi wake, “Nenda sasa, utazame upande wa bahari.” mtumishi wake akaenda na akasema, “Hakuna kitu,” Eliya akamwambia, “Nenda tena, mpaka mara saba.”
And sayde to his seruant, Goe vp now and looke towarde the way of the Sea. And he went vp, and looked, and sayde, There is nothing. Againe he sayd, Goe againe seuen times.
44 Ile mara ya saba mtumishi wake akasema, “Tazama, kuna wingu linapanda kutoka baharini, ni dogo kama mkono wa mtu.” Eliya akamjibu, Nenda ukamwambie Ahabu, 'Andaa gari lako na ushuke kabla mvua haijakuzuia.'”
And at the seuenth time he sayd, Behold, there ariseth a litle cloude out of the sea like a mans hand. Then he sayd, Vp, and say vnto Ahab, Make readie thy charet, and get thee downe, that the raine stay thee not.
45 Ikatokea baada ya muda mfupi mbingu zikawa nyeusi kwa mawingu na upepo, na kulikuwa na mvua kubwa. Ahabu akapanda gari akaenda zake Yezreeli,
And in the meane while the heauen was blacke with cloudes and winde, and there was a great rayne. Then Ahab went vp and came to Izreel.
46 lakini mkono wa BWANA ulikuwa juu ya Eliya. Akalikaza vazi lake kwa mshipi wake na akakimbia mbele ya Ahabu kwenye lango la Yezreeli.
And the hand of the Lord was on Eliiah, and he girded vp his Ioynes, and ran before Ahab till he came to Izreel.